Well, today ended my first summer at Carleton University
My first class was Childhood in the Global Context and did not go as well. The instructor was not a great teacher in my opinion or from the opinions of many in my class. She may have knowledge of her subject, but teaching and getting students to understand needs work. She definitely lost points with me when she ignored the fact that I was blind and didn’t make any effort to make sure I even remotely understood the corse content. Her and her assistant constantly addressed those that were visual learners.
So, before the class was even halfway over I didn’t wish to be in the class any longer which was too bad since the topics looked interesting if taught better. I was seriously thinking that attending Carleton was a very bad move on my part.
Then came my second class Ottawa, Exploring National Institutions. After the horrible experience of my first class I didn’t go in thinking things would go well either.
The class definitely had lots of visual aspects, but still turned out to be a pretty good class. I’m not one that goes for government and politics and all that, but I love history so I really did come away from this class knowing more than when I went in. The best thing was my instructor for this class also had a disability and taught the class a more like a conversational class. He stated that he wanted to try and teach us in a way that would interest us and not be boring.
He was also more willing to work with me when it came to exam time since our ADD symptoms are pretty close. He didn’t give me a different exam, but gave me an oral one. It was no different from the other students and he didn’t give any more than what he may have done for the rest of the class. Well, except for the fact we had Starbucks first, *smiles*
Now don’t get me wrong, I still don’t like summer classes. They are definitely too intense for me and doesn’t give room for if something goes wrong or if disability services fall behind, go on vacation or anything like that. So now to the fall and what they may bring.